The Detroit Red Wings are hunting for their first playoff spot in a decade, which includes six seasons of disappointment under general manager Steve Yzerman since his April 2019 hiring.
Now, the 2026 NHL trade deadline is a week away, and the rumor mill is picking up speed.
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Draft capital is generally the No. 1 asset contenders move out at the deadline, but prospects and young NHL players are often equally as valuable.
Which top prospect is most likely to be on the move from the Wings in a potential deal?
Red Wings young players to watch at trade deadline
It has been a while since the Winged Wheel was in the playoffs, but the team sits second in the Atlantic Division and looks to have a better chance of sticking around when the postseason arrives. But at 5-3-2 in their last 10 games, they might need to be a bit hotter.
The Red Wings have heavily relied on top players Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider. They could use a bit of juice all over the lineup, but upgrading the second defense pair or the middle six at center could be a big boost.
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One of the nice things about the Wings’ extended run at the bottom of the standings is they’ve built a robust prospect pipeline. They’ve also had a habit of drafting players who fit a similar archetype.
While Marco Kasper is already showing he can be an effective NHL player, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard started the year in the NHL and has since been strong in the AHL.
That leaves 21-year-old Nate Danielson, who had an extended look in the NHL (two goals, five assists in 28 games) but ultimately returned to the AHL.
Detroit Red Wings center Nate Danielson (29) looks to shoot the puck against New York Islanders defenseman Adam Boqvist (34) during the third period at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Thursday, November 20, 2025.
Danielson, drafted at No. 9 overall in 2023, is a solid two-way center and has flashes of transitional offense, but he feels like the odd man out at the moment.
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If he could be used in a deal to get a top-six center or top-four defender, it might be worth making the move and leveraging the future.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Red Wings prospect most likely dealt at NHL trade deadline